Growing up without a father figure, I had to navigate life without a leader and for religious reasons, I wasn't allowed to be involved in organized sports or allowed to spend time with classmates outside of school. I lived in a world of strict, protective boundaries where I was often an observer of the outside world. This made it hard for me to make real connections and relationships.
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After my mother lost her job and we moved in with my grandparents, I asked my grandfather for a club membership. When he finally said yes, everything changed.
I didn’t just walk through those doors... I came alive. The Club filled a void where a father’s guidance should have been. It gave me a community, pushed me out of my shell, and helped me discover who I was and who I could become. It became my second home. A place where I felt safe, supported, and like I truly belonged.
But in 2020, I lost that place. When my grandfather passed and the world shut down during the pandemic, I lost more than my routine. I lost myself for a while.
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Quickly, I made the decision to take my place back. I returned to the Club in 2023, this time as a staff member and volunteer coach. What I found wasn’t just a job. it was that same Third Place. The same sense of belonging that once changed my life.
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The Club gave me opportunities I never imagined, like saving enough to buy my first car at 16. I’ve coached six teams throughout our sports programs. I’ve also learned that the real “win” isn’t about the score.
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At the Club kids don’t just learn how to compete, they learn how to show up, support one another and lead. They become champions on the field and off. Proving that champions and leaders are shaped in every part of life, not just during the game.
Through programs, mentorship, and daily interactions with staff and peers, I gained confidence, and discovered how powerful a positive role model can be.
Today, I see kids every day who are searching for what I once needed.
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Because of the Club, I found my way back and now I have the chance to be that support for others. I am living proof of what access to the Club can do.
A scholarship opens the door for another child to experience that same sense of belonging. It gives them a place to grow, to be supported, and to discover who they can become.
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